Observations:
There are many differences between my middle school and high school classes, especially in the way that they are ran. At the middle school my CT, Mr. Shunney, is fairly laid back but seems to always be on his "game" and is constantly noticing every little thing going on in his room. Before the first bell Mr. Shunney is usually catching up on his correspondence via email or chatting with team colleagues. He's explained that since the goggles for science lab have not come in yet there isn't a whole lot of setting up to do in the morning. After the first bell rings the kids start to pile in, Mr. Shunney is still in the classroom but is actively greeting the students as they enter. He opens class by first taking attendance and checking in with the kids that had forgot to hand in homework the day or two before, or asks them about missing assignments. Finally when that part of the day is over (15 minutes later) he lets the class know what they are doing for the day. Gives oral instructions and administers the materials. If homework is due that day he goes around and collects it for grading.
Reflections:
When I have my own classroom equipped with all of the responsibility I will be fully prepared before class begins. Sure I may check my e-mails and chat with a team member but I will have my classroom student ready before they arrive. By this I mean I will have textbooks on each desk if that is what we will be using for the period and materials disbursed. I have pretty much decided that as students arrive I'm going to have a question for though written on the board that they will have to critically think about and write in a journal while I take attendance and make sure everything is settled. So, with that, before class that question will be clearly and neatly written on the board. So this is where I transition into opening the class. As stated above a question for thought will be written, they shall work on that until my my duties are finished and the class is settled. It is also during that time that I will walk around and check homework if it is an assignment that is going to receive a check plus, check, or a check minus/zero. If the homework that is due needs to be turned in they will be instructed from me at the door (as I'm greeting incoming students) to place it in a homework bin that will be clearly labeled and placed on my desk.
Grade 9 and 12, North Kingstown High School
Observations:
Ms. Koutabb, my high school cooperating teacher isn't incredibly different from my middle school teacher when it comes to "preparing" before class starts. Since she teaches an Earth Science class (which doesn't have a lab attached to it) and an AP Anatomy and Physiology class whose lab doesn't really begin until the spring it's mostly lectures and demonstrations on the board. Before class she too is catching up on emails. Her room has about four gigantic fish tanks filled with fish so she also spends her mornings taking care of the animals. In between classes during the day before class she is at the door looking out into the hallway or (this is kind of weird) making coffee for her AND her students in the classroom. When the class has filed in she usually quickly takes attendance on the computer and addresses the class about what they are going to do for the day. (It runs pretty smoothly.) Next, she walks around and checks everybody's homework, and while she is doing this she is actually looking at their answers and making sure that they took the homework seriously and tried their best at it.
Reflections:
As stated above I too will probably check my emails if I have enough time before class begins, but my responsibilities will come first and my classroom will be completely set up the way it needs to support that days' lessons. Since this is a high school setting I would also pay more attention to the hallways during passing time and stand at the door as students entered my room. In terms of opening the class will probably still have a question for thought for the students as they settle in. I feel like that would be a great way to "informally" assess how they understand the current material as well as support our country's fight for better literacy. As stated above about homework I will probably uphold the same values as far as walking around and "checking" homework and collecting depending on how in depth the assignment is. However, I feel like since it is a high school level there will be a lot more collecting rather than checking off.
Observations:
There are many differences between my middle school and high school classes, especially in the way that they are ran. At the middle school my CT, Mr. Shunney, is fairly laid back but seems to always be on his "game" and is constantly noticing every little thing going on in his room. Before the first bell Mr. Shunney is usually catching up on his correspondence via email or chatting with team colleagues. He's explained that since the goggles for science lab have not come in yet there isn't a whole lot of setting up to do in the morning. After the first bell rings the kids start to pile in, Mr. Shunney is still in the classroom but is actively greeting the students as they enter. He opens class by first taking attendance and checking in with the kids that had forgot to hand in homework the day or two before, or asks them about missing assignments. Finally when that part of the day is over (15 minutes later) he lets the class know what they are doing for the day. Gives oral instructions and administers the materials. If homework is due that day he goes around and collects it for grading.
Reflections:
When I have my own classroom equipped with all of the responsibility I will be fully prepared before class begins. Sure I may check my e-mails and chat with a team member but I will have my classroom student ready before they arrive. By this I mean I will have textbooks on each desk if that is what we will be using for the period and materials disbursed. I have pretty much decided that as students arrive I'm going to have a question for though written on the board that they will have to critically think about and write in a journal while I take attendance and make sure everything is settled. So, with that, before class that question will be clearly and neatly written on the board. So this is where I transition into opening the class. As stated above a question for thought will be written, they shall work on that until my my duties are finished and the class is settled. It is also during that time that I will walk around and check homework if it is an assignment that is going to receive a check plus, check, or a check minus/zero. If the homework that is due needs to be turned in they will be instructed from me at the door (as I'm greeting incoming students) to place it in a homework bin that will be clearly labeled and placed on my desk.
Grade 9 and 12, North Kingstown High School
Observations:
Ms. Koutabb, my high school cooperating teacher isn't incredibly different from my middle school teacher when it comes to "preparing" before class starts. Since she teaches an Earth Science class (which doesn't have a lab attached to it) and an AP Anatomy and Physiology class whose lab doesn't really begin until the spring it's mostly lectures and demonstrations on the board. Before class she too is catching up on emails. Her room has about four gigantic fish tanks filled with fish so she also spends her mornings taking care of the animals. In between classes during the day before class she is at the door looking out into the hallway or (this is kind of weird) making coffee for her AND her students in the classroom. When the class has filed in she usually quickly takes attendance on the computer and addresses the class about what they are going to do for the day. (It runs pretty smoothly.) Next, she walks around and checks everybody's homework, and while she is doing this she is actually looking at their answers and making sure that they took the homework seriously and tried their best at it.
Reflections:
As stated above I too will probably check my emails if I have enough time before class begins, but my responsibilities will come first and my classroom will be completely set up the way it needs to support that days' lessons. Since this is a high school setting I would also pay more attention to the hallways during passing time and stand at the door as students entered my room. In terms of opening the class will probably still have a question for thought for the students as they settle in. I feel like that would be a great way to "informally" assess how they understand the current material as well as support our country's fight for better literacy. As stated above about homework I will probably uphold the same values as far as walking around and "checking" homework and collecting depending on how in depth the assignment is. However, I feel like since it is a high school level there will be a lot more collecting rather than checking off.